President Blair would give EU strong voice on global stage, says British Foreign Secretary

The foreign secretary's comments were seized on by his Tory shadow, William Hague, who said moves to install the former prime minister as president demonstrated that there should have been a referendum on the Lisbon treaty all along.

Hague also refused to "concede defeat" on the Conservatives' promise of a referendum until the Czech president signs off the document, as expected, in the next few weeks, as the shadow foreign secretary criticised the fact that British voters had been given no say on the new presidential role.

The two politicians locked horns as the issue of Blair's presidential bid – still officially undeclared – risked overshadowing the start of a two-day summit in Brussels ostensibly called to discuss climate change and financial regulation.

Miliband gave an interview to the Financial Times to highlight Blair's credentials for the job and criticise the Tories' "dangerous" decision to forge an alliance with fringe parties in Europe. Miliband, who has emerged as Blair's most vocal cheerleader, said it was a "fact" that shifts in global power towards China and India meant the EU had to be a "strong voice globally".